"Back to Duel", known as "The Beginning of Destiny! New Student, Edo Phoenix" in the Japanese version, is the fifty-third episode of the Yu-Gi-Oh! GX anime. It first aired in Japan on October 5, 2005 and in the United States on August 21, 2006.

Unaware of Aster's status, Jaden Duels him, eager to teach a new student about Dueling. During the Duel, Ms. Dorothy reveals that he constructed the Deck out of eight packs of cards he purchased that morning. Jaden attempts to give him advice, which Aster pretends to take. He receives a cell phone call from a white-cloaked man, who had told Aster to seek out Jaden in the first place, as the cloaked man believes Jaden to be "the one". Aster is not impressed by Jaden, and leaves after being defeated. Syrus Truesdale realizes who Aster really was, and Jaden is eager to have a rematch with Aster when the latter is using his true Deck.

Crowler and Bonaparte wait all day at the docks for Aster, but he arrived earlier. They meet Tyranno Hassleberry, a Ra Yellow student, who is perturbed that he was not admitted into Obelisk Blue. Bonaparte reveals his intentions of destroying the Slifer Red dorm, believing it to be a blot on the school's reputation, as he views all of the dorm's Duelists as weaklings.

Turn 5: Aster
Aster draws "Monster Gate". He then activates his face-down "Beckoning Light" to discard "Monster Gate" and add the "Mystical Shine Ball" in his Graveyard to his hand. Aster then Activates "Zerato's" effect to discard "Mystical Shine Ball" and destroy "Clay Guardian". "Archlord Zerato" attacks directly, but Jaden activates his face-down "The Flute of Summoning Kuriboh" to Special Summon "Winged Kuriboh" (300/200) from his Deck in Defense Position. A replay occurs, and "Zerato" attacks and destroys "Winged Kuriboh" instead.

Turn 6: Jaden
Jaden draws "Elemental Hero Bubbleman" and subsequently Normal Summons it (800/1200) in Attack Position. Since Jaden summoned "Bubbleman" while he had no other cards on his side of the field, its effect activates, allowing Jaden to draw two cards ("The Warrior Returning Alive" and "Polymerization").[Notes 1]

"Tempest" attacks "Zerato". Jaden then activates "Tempest's" effect, sending his Set card to the Graveyard in order to prevent its destruction. Because of that, only "Archlord Zerato" was destroyed.[Notes 2]

Differences in adaptations

In the dub, the narration in the beginning of the episode is done by both Jaden Yuki and Syrus Truesdale. In the original version, the narration is only done by Syrus. While Vellian Crowler and Jean-Louis Bonaparte are running to the ship, the animation stops (in the dub) and Jaden says "Yep, you heard right. Crowler's head of the school now. And that short stocky balding guy is his new sidekick, Vice-chancellor Bonaparte. Now these two ..." Syrus interrupts by saying, "Uh, Jaden, you're narrating again." Jaden then says, "Uh, right sorry." and then the episode resumes. In the Japanese version. there is no pause nor narration when Crowler and Bonaparte are running to the ship.